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Nissan Develops Emergency Auto-Steering System

Posted by samzenpus on from the technology-take-the-wheel dept.

AmiMoJo writes "Japanese automaker Nissan Motor says it has developed a new technology to help drivers avoid collisions. A new computer system automatically steers the car to avoid colliding with objects in the road. The system relies on radar and laser scanners. It also uses a front-mounted camera to provide information on what's happening outside the car. The system first alerts the driver to turn in a certain direction. If the driver cannot immediately turn in that direction, the system takes over the steering to help avoid a collision."

4 of 391 comments (clear)

  1. recipie for disaster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How well does said auto-steering system perform on ice, mud, or fording small streams?

    1. Re:recipie for disaster by LinuxIsGarbage · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Electronic Stability Control already does it on those surfaces.

    2. Re:recipie for disaster by dubbreak · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Pro tip... install appropriate tires prior to driving on ice.

      This.

      Proper tires make all the difference. I have a FWD Rav4. Stock "all season" tires would cause it to go into a traction control seizure on slippery inclines (it would just shudder until you turn the traction control off). With some proper winter tires (full studable winter, not "winter rated") it was great in the snow and ice. I tried to get it out of control on purpose and between ETC and ESC it would right itself every time (this was in northern Canada with plenty of snow and ice in -20C).

      Still have to watch for breaking though. If you are carrying too much speed and hit ice antilock isn't going to save you. Driving slow and engine braking will.

      --
      "If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
    3. Re:recipie for disaster by artor3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      No, electronic stability control is a great idea that makes cars much safer ...for most drivers.

      For highly skilled drivers, it probably gets in the way more than it helps. But the vast majority of drivers aren't pros. And there's no denying that accidents have gone down markedly since ESC was introduced. And lest you claim that's a coincidence, studies have also shown strong correlation between vehicles that lack ESC and vehicles that end up in fatal accidents.

      Seriously, you shouldn't make claims like that before looking at the evidence. If someone sees your post and decides to avoid getting ESC in their next car, their risk of death goes up by quite a bit. It's akin to telling people vaccines cause autism. Stop it.